Rooms & Brooms

10-days of ethnographic research at rooming houses in Toronto.

Rooming houses are often referred to as the bottom rung on the housing ladder. Strangers are co-inhabiting a space — bathrooms and kitchens are often shared. Because residents are typically placed on a first come first serve basis, residents rarely have much in common with their housemates: they hold different interests and live opposing lifestyles.

Over two weeks, we spent time in about 10 different rooming houses in Toronto’s east side, exploring what informs residents’ sense of belonging, agency and aspirations for the future. All so we could find opportunities for change.

For 12 years Mr. John has been stuck in a rooming house surrounded by people he doesn’t trust nor relate to. He wants to learn, work, meet interesting people not see violence and drugs everyday. Relocation to the penthouse is positive, but Mr. John is deeply lonely and unsure how to fix it.Bringing pizza and having dinner with residents.Bringing housewarming gifts for a couple.Shadowing the security staff at the rooming house.